PKCγ expression in adolescent and adult rats : evidence for a cerebellar mechanism underlying age-dependent motor impairments produced by acute ethanol.

Adolescents are less sensitive to ethanol-induced motor impairments compared to adults; however, a definitive mechanism underlying this difference has not been identified. Compared to wild-type littermates, PKCγ knock-out mice exhibit reduced motor sensitivity to ethanol; it is plausible that adolescent rats also have reduced PKCγ expression in brain regions responsible for motor function, specifically the cerebellum and cortex. Reduced PKCγ expression in these regions may govern the age-dependent motor impairments produced by ethanol. The current study analyzed membrane-bound PKCγ expression in adolescent and adult rats 40 minutes after an acute ethanol or saline injection. Western blot analysis indicates adolescent rats have reduced PKCγ expression in the cerebellum and cortex compared to adults. It is concluded that PKCγ expression may be part of a larger mechanism regulating the age-dependent motor impairments produced by acute ethanol administration.